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Written by Jacqui Skibba, CSCS
When you think of a fiesta, visions of margaritas, piñatas, and mariachi bands may come to mind. However, for fitness and figure fans in the Mile High City, once a year the word takes on another meaning. The 40-plus competitors that braved the cold and snowy Colorado morning on October 21st chose to delay their nacho eating and tequila shooting as they smiled, posed, flipped, flexed, and quarter turned their way to fitness and figure success.
  Click Image To Enlarge. Various Competitors. Celebrating its 4th year, the NPC Carla Sanchez Fitness Fiesta is the only NPC show of its kind. Choosing to eliminate the men’s and women’s bodybuilding competitions, co-promoters IFBB Fitness Pro, Carla Sanchez and NPC Rocky Mountain Chairman, Jeff Taylor have once again proven that fitness and figure can stand alone in the sport, draw a crowd, and generate revenue and sponsorship dollars. The contest featured Women’s and Men’s Fitness, collegiate figure, three age division for Master’s Figure, three height classes in novice and four in open figure, Junior fitness, and a fitness model search sponsored by Bodysport.com. The contest is becoming a favorite for young and first time competitors, as was evident by the size of the Novice figure category. At the end of the evening, under 5’2†class winner Miranda Hubbard walked away with the novice and Open figure titles, while Teresa Nystrom finished first in every division she entered, including the overall Master’s figure title, and 1st place in both the novice and open over 5’6†divisions.
With continued training and practice, I am sure you will see these and the other outstanding competitors gracing the national stage very soon. The Bodysport.com fitness model search is always a popular event with participants and the audience, more so this year with the addition of the Fan Favorite category. Audience members could vote for their favorite model and the winner would share the spoils with the winners of the men’s and women’s divisions. The contest featured a swimsuit round, followed by an athletic wear round. Division winners Lindsey Giometti and Jason Carlton (who also won the men’s fan favorite category) won the opportunity to shoot with famed-industry photographer Terry Goodlad, as well as a portfolio shoot with local photographer Rob Hawthorne, supplements, and other prizes valuing over $500.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Lindsey Giometti and Jason Carlton. The women's Fan Favorite award went to returning model search participant Chelsea Shirley, prompting enthusiastic cheers and applause from her many supporters in the audience. As always, the highlight of the evening came with the performances by the Junior Fitness participants. These dynamic, energetic young ladies, ages 6-12, wowed the crowed with stage presence beyond their years, not too mention fitness and dance skills to rival many national and pro level competitors. Sitting in the audience, it was easy to be transported 10-15 years into the future, and imagine these young ladies gracing the Fitness Olympia stage.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Junior Fitness Participants. With the recent decline in fitness participants at the national level, one would hope that more promoters will take their cue from Carla Sanchez, and provide the opportunity for the next generation of fitness stars to showcase their talents and hone their skills on the competition stage.
The night was complete with performances by Elements of Motion, a co-ed hip hop and breaking group, The Denver Nuggets Dancers and IFBB Fitness Pro, Julie Childs. Other IFBB Pros making special guest appearances included Elaine Goodlad, Christine Pomponio-Pate and Phil Heath who was a celebrity judge for the fitness model search.
Click Image To Enlarge. Denver Nuggets Dancers (top), Elements of Motion (bottom) .
Congratulations to all of the Fitness Fiesta participants, and to Carla Sanchez, Jeff Taylor and the Rocky Mountain NPC on another outstanding and exciting event. Thanks also to Isaac Hinds who took hundreds of photos for an upcoming feature story for the NPC News. We hope you’ll join the party again next year. Now bring on the margaritas! Jacqui Skibba is a personal trainer and national level NPC competitor based in Denver, CO. She is a proud member of the Performance Ready Fitness and Figure Team. For more information, please visit www.performanceready.com
Tokyo Joe’s, The Point Athletic Club, The Squires Clinic, Bodysport.com, iSatori, BodyBuilding.com, Christine Marsh Designs, JavaFit, Cyto-Charge, J. Anthony Wear, Stryker Physiotherapy Associates, Rob Hawthorne Photography, BodyPhotage and NPC News.
Women’s Model Search 1 Lindsey Giometti FAN FAVORITE WINNER: Chelsea Shirley Men’s Model Search 1 Jason Carlton FAN FAVORITE WINNER: Jason Carlton TWO PIECE ROUND: Collegiate Figure 1 Amanda Berthod Figure 30 - 35 1 Liza Kampstra Figure 35 - 40 1 LeeAnn Johnson Figure Over 40 1 Teresa Nystrom OVERALL MASTERS FIGURE WINNER Teresa Nystrom Figure Novice Under 5’4 1 Miranda Hubbard Figure Novice 5’4 - 5’6 1 Martha Pasquale Figure Novice Over 5’6 1 Teresa Nystrom OVERALL FIGURE NOVICE WINNER: Miranda Hubbard Figure Open Under 5’2 1 Miranda Hubbard Figure Open 5’2 - 5’4 1 Melissa Robinette Figure Open 5’4 - 5’6 1 Evon Schones Figure Open 5’6 1 Teresa Nystrom OVERALL OPEN FIGURE WINNER: Miranda Hubbard Men’s Fitness 1 Jason Carlton Junior Fitness Ages 7 & Under 1 Bianca Laratta Junior Fitness Ages 8 - 10 1 Victoria Bixler Junior Fitness Ages 11 - 14 1 Dominique Laratta
OCTOBER 21, 2006
TEIKYO LORETTO HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY THEATER
General Admission - $15
Women's Open Fitness, Women's Open Figure and Women's Novice Figure: 1st -5th in each height class.
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